Mr Roberts, who was a senator until being forced to resign from Federal Parliament over dual citizenship, was drafted in to run for Ipswich during the last week of October, only a month out from the election.

With almost 61 per cent of the count complete, Labor's Jennifer Howard had 48.3 per cent of the primary vote, followed by Mr Roberts on 26.6 per cent and the LNP's Andrew Caswell on 13.5 per cent.

Preferences were expected to send the Labor candidate over the magic mark of 50 per cent.

Mr Roberts conceded that he wouldn't win, but said he was pleased One Nation had eaten into the Labor and LNP voter base.

"I feel very encouraged by especially the support that people of Ipswich have given me on the streets and especially at the polling booth today," he told the ABC.